In spite of a stagnant job market and the prospect of high tuition fees, teenagers are the most optimistic age group in the United Kingdom, claims a new report by the Office for National Statistics. Asked how optimistic they felt about the next 12 months, 85% of 16- to 19-year-olds expressed medium to high levels of optimism – every older age group is more pessimistic about the future.

What age were you when you were most positive about life ahead of you?